The FBI is investigating Joe Kent, the former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, over an alleged leak of classified information, according to reports from Semafor and CBS News. The inquiry predates Kent's resignation on Tuesday, which he announced in protest against US airstrikes on Iran.
Kent, a staunch Donald Trump ally and former Green Beret, gave his first media interview since stepping down to right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson. He claimed that dissenting voices were excluded from the decision-making process leading to the strikes on 28 February. 'There wasn't a robust debate,' Kent said, alleging that key officials were not allowed to express their opinions to the president.
Kent insisted there was no intelligence suggesting Iran posed an imminent threat, and accused Israel of driving the US action. 'The Israelis drove the decision to take this action,' he said, claiming Israeli officials lobbied Trump with unsubstantiated claims. His remarks drew criticism for referencing an 'Israeli lobby,' which some deemed offensive.
Kent, 45, served 11 combat deployments as a Green Beret before joining the CIA. His wife, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria in 2019. He resigned after concluding his concerns would be ignored, stating, 'I can't be a part of this in good conscience.'
The FBI declined to comment on the investigation. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said it was solely up to Trump to decide whether Iran posed a threat.
